Rail cribber

Abstract

A cribbing work head including a work head frame having a longitudinal extent and a lateral extent. At least two inverted U-shaped work arms are mounted parallel to one another on the work head frame and spaced longitudinally from each other for lateral reciprocating movement on the frame, each of the work arms having a replaceable tool secured to each free end of the inverted U-shaped work arm. A separate fluid power double cylinder is secured to the work head frame and to each of the inverted U-shape work arms for independently laterally reciprocating the work arms. A main cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders is operable to laterally reciprocatingly move a respective work arm and a secondary cylinder of each of the fluid power double cylinders operable to move a respective work arm to one of two discrete lateral starting points.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A cribbing work head, comprising:
 a work head frame having a longitudinal extent and a lateral extent; 
 at least two inverted U-shaped work arms mounted parallel to one another on said work head frame and spaced longitudinally from each other for lateral reciprocating movement on said frame, each of said work arms having a replaceable tool secured to each free end of said inverted U-shaped work arm; 
 a separate fluid power double cylinder secured to said work head frame and to each of said inverted U-shape work arms for independently laterally reciprocating said work arms; 
 a main cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders operable to laterally reciprocatingly move a respective work arm and a secondary cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders operable to move a respective work arm to one of two discrete lateral starting points. 
 
     
     
       2. The cribbing work head of  claim 1 , wherein each of said inverted U-shaped work arms comprises a horizontal beam arranged to slide laterally relative to said work head frame, a first depending arm secured at a top end to one end of said horizontal beam and having one of said replaceable tools removably mounted to a bottom end thereof, and a second depending arm secured at a top end to an opposite end of said horizontal beam and having one of said replaceable tools removably mounted to a bottom end thereof. 
     
     
       3. The cribbing work head of  claim 2 , wherein said replaceable tool mounted to said first depending arm extends laterally toward said second depending arm and said replaceable tool mounted to said second depending arm extends laterally toward said first depending arm. 
     
     
       4. The cribbing work head of  claim 1 , wherein each of said fluid power double cylinders comprises said main cylinder secured to an end of said secondary cylinder such that said main cylinder and said secondary cylinder are arranged on a common axis. 
     
     
       5. The cribbing work head of  claim 1 , wherein each tool extends laterally from said end of said inverted U-shaped work arm for a distance of 4 to 10 inches. 
     
     
       6. The cribbing work head of  claim 1 , wherein said main cylinder is mounted and oriented such that it can move its respective inverted U-shaped work arm in either lateral direction. 
     
     
       7. The cribbing work head of  claim 1 , wherein said at least two inverted U-shaped work arms comprises four inverted U-shaped work arms. 
     
     
       8. A cribbing machine configured for selectively moving ballast from at least one railway crib to one lateral side of the railway track, to an opposite side of the railway track, or to both lateral sides of the railway track, comprising:
 a machine frame having a front frame end and a rear frame end and extending in a longitudinal direction from said front frame end to said rear frame end; 
 a work head frame having a longitudinal extent and a lateral extent mounted laterally on said machine frame and being reciprocably movable vertically relative to the railway track between a working position and a travel position; 
 at least two inverted U-shaped work arms mounted parallel to one another on said work head frame and spaced longitudinally from each other for lateral reciprocating movement on said work head frame, each of said work arms having a replaceable tool secured to each free end of said inverted U-shaped work arm; 
 a separate fluid power double cylinder secured to said work head frame and to each of said inverted U-shape work arms for independently laterally reciprocating said work arms; 
 a main cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders operable to laterally reciprocatingly move a respective work arm and a secondary cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders operable to move a respective work arm to one of two discrete lateral starting points; and 
 a control system connected to each of said fluid power double cylinders to selectively operate said main cylinders and secondary cylinders to laterally move said work arms in a manner depending on an operational sequence determined by said control system. 
 
     
     
       9. The cribbing machine of  claim 8 , including a tie pusher mounted on said machine frame and arranged to push a tie in a longitudinal direction relative to said machine frame. 
     
     
       10. The cribbing machine of  claim 8 , wherein said main cylinder of each of said fluid power double cylinders includes an internal sensor arranged to provide position feedback to a controller such that an extension position of said main cylinder can be controlled by said controller. 
     
     
       11. The cribbing machine of  claim 10 , wherein said controller is a PLC controller. 
     
     
       12. The cribbing machine of  claim 8 , wherein each of said inverted U-shaped work arms comprises a horizontal beam arranged to slide laterally relative to said work head frame, a first depending arm secured at a top end to one end of said horizontal beam and having one of said replaceable tools removably mounted to a bottom end thereof, and a second depending arm secured at a top end to an opposite end of said horizontal beam and having one of said replaceable tools removably mounted to a bottom end thereof. 
     
     
       13. The cribbing machine of  claim 8 , wherein said replaceable tool mounted to said first depending arm extends laterally toward said second depending arm and said replaceable tool mounted to said second depending arm extends laterally toward said first depending arm. 
     
     
       14. The cribbing machine of  claim 8 , wherein said at least two inverted U-shaped work arms comprises four inverted U-shaped work arms. 
     
     
       15. A tool for use with a rail maintenance cribber having at least one laterally moving work arm having a downwardly facing free end, said tool configured for attachment to said downwardly facing free end and comprising:
 a tool body having a mounting area and a first ballast pusher end wall at one lateral end of the tool, said first ballast pusher end wall including at least one substantially vertical surface; and 
 said tool body having a substantially vertically extending second ballast pusher end wall spaced from and substantially parallel to said first ballast pusher end wall at an opposite lateral end of the tool. 
 
     
     
       16. The tool of  claim 15  wherein said first ballast pusher end has a lower serrated edge. 
     
     
       17. The tool of  claim 15  wherein said second ballast pusher end has a lower serrated edge. 
     
     
       18. The tool of  claim 15  wherein said first ballast pusher end wall is held apart from said second ballast pusher end wall by a substantially horizontal wall. 
     
     
       19. The tool of  claim 15  wherein said first ballast pusher end wall is held apart from said second ballast pusher end wall by a substantially vertical wall. 
     
     
       20. The tool of  claim 15 , wherein said mounting area and said first ballast pusher end wall are formed on a single plate.